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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Mar 14, 2017 - 08:37pm PT
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My condolences to his family and friends. To paraphrase Shakespeare, he is a man upon whose like I will not look upon again. In my humble opinion, the greatest of his generation.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Mar 14, 2017 - 08:39pm PT
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Ah shucks.
You were such an inspiration to me as a young climber and continued to be as I aged.
RIP Sir.
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Mei
Trad climber
mxi2000.net
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Mar 14, 2017 - 08:57pm PT
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My first reaction when it dawned on me that this was real was "no, it can't be real! Legends like Royal don't die!"
But quickly, I realized how silly I was. At 82 years of age, he was probably ready for his new adventure.
I can't say I read all the literature and watched all the footage of climbing from the golden era, but based on my limited exposure, Royal stood out. I don't know what he was like in his youth everyday, but he seemed to me to have broken the mold of stereotypical rock climbers of the time, loud, wild, and drunk. I feel that sometimes people do those thing just to fit in. Yet, Royal showed us we do not always need to blend in in order to be accepted and respected.
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:03pm PT
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For him to come to the black hills or any other area away from home and crush some of the best lines showed a lot of guts. That and obviously he just loved to climb.
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shipoopoi
Big Wall climber
oakland
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:03pm PT
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my wife, heather baer, and myself pay tribute to the legend, author, and partygoer that royal robbins was. his pinecrest events in our sierra nevada section were an amazing get togethers with climbing gods and noobies happily mixed together. his climbing prowess, first ascent ticklist and influence were unmatched. he changed a lot in the climbing world. we salute his mastery, and shed tears for a man we truly enjoyed to be around. Steve schneider
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:10pm PT
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The other side is getting interesting. What a life!
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Modesto Mutant
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:11pm PT
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As a young misguided youth growing up in Modesto, the Royal Robbins Mountain Shop was an oasis in a town lacking in adventure and culture. It was simply a revelation. I would hang out in the shop just to soak it all in. One day, Royal walked up to me and said "Hey kid, do you want a job"? That changed my life. I got a job working in the back helping with Mountain Paraphenalia. Over time, Royal's insights, wit, intelligence and grace taught me what it was like to be a man. And I was only one of hundreds if not thousands who felt this influence. RIP Royal. You live on though all you connected with.
Kevin Givens
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Russ Walling
Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:12pm PT
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All modern climbers have stood on his shoulders. RIP to RR and condolences to his family and friends.
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Srbphoto
climber
Kennewick wa
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:22pm PT
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RIP Royal.
Basic Rockcraft was the first climbing book I ever read.
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steve s
Trad climber
eldo
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:23pm PT
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I learned so much from his climbs, his rock craft books, his writings, his ingenuity ,and his integrity in the climbing world. Shaped how I climbed and respected the rock and the environment . Thanks Royal , may you rest in peace.
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yanqui
climber
Balcarce, Argentina
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:23pm PT
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Sure, my first pair of rock shoes were some rigid RRs and I learned about the basics from his rockcraft books, but of the little I know about Royal Robbins, I think what most impressed me were the comments he made about Warren Harding and the Dawn Wall in the movie "Valley Uprising". After Warren Harding's epic journey up the wall, Robbin's went up to second the route and chop all the bolts. In the movie Robbins says: "I was just pushed to my limits to follow his leads and I was overcome by admiration for the level of expertise. Warren Harding, he was climbing at an inspired level. And so I thought, this doesn't make sense. This doesn't feel right. And so I stopped removing them at that point and I decided to just go ahead and climb it, leave the rest of the bolts in. It's hard to admit it, but I have to say that I think some of my reaction was Harding getting all the credit. And I felt I should get some. And that was a personal thing. I suppose it was an ego thing, Yeah."
RIP Royal Robbins.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:42pm PT
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I know he got to live a good long life but this news still made us cry.
His impact and significance is so great.
Best wishes to his family.
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Kevin Crum
Sport climber
Oakdale, CA
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:44pm PT
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Meeting him and learning about him is the reason I got into climbing.
When I read his book what stuck with me the most (aside from the epic on leaning tower) was the way he spoke about Liz. He seemed to love her dearly and is the reason I want to marry my special someone someday.
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Brian More
climber
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:54pm PT
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I consider myself very fortunate to have known Royal. Basically, I sent him an email and he invited me over. I visited with him half a dozen times between 2004 and 2008. He and Liz were always really nice. He was always funny, self-effacing, and profound.
I'm the last person qualified to write his eulogy but if I did I'd say:
He climbed his "inner mountains" and he taught us to climb ours.
Thank you for spending time with me, I'll never forget it.
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OnsightOrGoHome
Trad climber
Fair Oaks
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Mar 14, 2017 - 09:55pm PT
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He taught and inspired us all in one way or another. My father was born on the same day/year, and I'm lucky he can still enjoy the freedom of the hills with me. Our big climb this summer will be Grand Teton's Upper Exum Ridge, unfortunately I don't think we'll be doing Royal's FA route of the Direct North Face.
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Friend
climber
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Mar 14, 2017 - 10:05pm PT
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Such an inspiration. I've gone misty reading this thread.
Not what he did. The way he did it.
RIP Royal Robbins.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Mar 14, 2017 - 10:10pm PT
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I am nearly struck dumb by this news.
Many have spoken about his rockcraft, which was amazing and revolutionary.
By itself, that would have been something.
However, what impressed me far more was the development of his arthritis disability in his hand, which ended his climbing career.
That could have been it, settled down into a quiet life. BUT NO!
A pivot to other activities, maintaining a high public profile, making himself accessible to many many people, as documented above.
A remarkable person. For those who have not read is autobiography, quite amazing.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Mar 14, 2017 - 10:21pm PT
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Condolences to his family and friends. An amazing life. Not many climbers in California have not laid a hand on a Robbins FA.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 14, 2017 - 10:23pm PT
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hey there say, mtnyoung...
this is a sweet share... i've learned a lot more about
him, with that photo, too, and these words:
He was completely patient with little girls who were interested in chess :)
not just the climber, but the elder, to the little ones...
thank you for sharing this...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 14, 2017 - 10:29pm PT
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hey there say, mighty hiker... thank you for the 'offical thread'
too...
good to have it 'set in stone' more, here now...
my deep condolences and prayers for this family and loved ones,
as they must move forward, without him...
will add my other message, here, too, in just a minute...
Mar 14, 2017 - 09:53pm PT
hey there say, steve w... oh my... thank you for sharing, and taking care, as to not put too much info, in the title, until you were sure...
very kind of you...
oh my... very very sad to hear this...
all these older climbers have been such great mentors:
by JUST BEING THEMSELVES... and--living the life...
thank you to royal robbins, for all you have in your life,
and for sharing it without others, then and now, and
leading the way for many...
my condolences and prayers for his family and loved ones...
thank you to all that post, and help folks like me, learn from
what you have shared, as to this very special climber, that
made his way into history, doing what he loved so much...
thank you, royal robbins...
for being who you were...
in case anyone needs the other link:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2956629&tn=20#msg2956929
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